Switch contact



Aug. 26, 1930.

w. R. HUTTINGER -1,774,377

swITCH CONTACT Filed July 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @ws/@ww Aug.-f2s, 1930.

W. R. HUTTINAGER swITcH CONTACT Filed Ju1yf19, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 2U contact members, a plurality of floatingk Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITEBl STATES PATENT QFFICE SWITCH CONTACT Application filed July 19,

i that `'ood contact may be assuredwhen the movable f switch member is disaligned with respect to the stationary contact member.

A still further object of my .invention is to provide a switch comprising a pair of spaced switch elements having a ball-and-soclet connection with one of the contact members, and adjustable means carried by the floating switch elements tor co-action wit-h the other contact n'iember, so that good contact may be assured tor a maximmn disalignment of the contact members with respect to the Heating elements.

A still ini-ther object ot my invention is to provide simple and eilicient means, whereby unitorm Contact pressures may be maintained on the hinge and front switch terminals.

Other objects and applications ot my invcntioir, as well as details of construction and operation, will be apparent more fully hereinafter, when taken in connection with the accon'ip'anying drawin wherein Fig.. 1 is a front elevational view ot a switch compartment with the cover removed, showin g one embodiment ot my invention F ig". 2 a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail, front and side elevational views, respectively, of the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2*;

Figs. 5 andv 6 are transverse'and longitudinal sectional views taken on the lines 5-5 andI 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 Ais a side elevational view of the dis- 1928. Serial No. 293,884.

connect switch shown .in Fig. 2, but with the upper and lower switch terminals further disaligned.

v Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a compartment l ot' a power house is provided with an open side 2 affording access to a truck-type oil switch 3 and a disconnect switch 4l positioned therein. The oil switch 3 is shown as mounted on a trucl; 5 permitting' the removal thereoi,y when repairs are necessary. A difficulty heretofore encountered in connection with such switching equipment is the necessity for very accurately machinine` the switch parts, so that when the oil switen 3 is moved into the con'ipartment 1 the disconn .ct switch 4 may be closed. Such machiningnecessarily increases the expense ot the equipment. These undesirable results are overcome in my invention by the provision oll a flexible connection between a hinge switch terminal (l, which is mounted on the oil switch and a front .switch terminal 7 which is insulatinnjly mounted on a rear wall 8 ot the compartment li Such constrnctiini permits the closing ot the switch 4. with a maximum disalienment ot the switch terminal members G and 7.

Referring more particularly to F iirs. 3 and 4l, the disconnect switch 't is shown as comprisinf.;` a rswitch blade or member S) which serves to connect contact members G and 7. The .switch blade 9 may comprise a pair o'li spaced, clone-ated, floating elements 11 and 12, lower end portions 13 and 1.4- ot which are provided withr rece :es l5 and 16 which to- `@other deline a soclrct lT Ytor a ball clemtait- 18. The ball element 18 is mounted on the upper end portion ot the hinge switch terminal G. A bolt 19 extends thr ugh the floatingl elements 11 and 12 inm'iediately adjacent to the ball element 8, and it is provided with adjustable heads 2l and 22 so as to prevent thev separation ot the lower end portions ot the Heatingr switch elements l1 and 12. The lnill-and-socket connection thus atl'orded between the hinge terminal G and the switch blade 9 permits the latter to assume a number otangul-arly displaced positions.

lVhen the switch terminals 6 and 7 are out of alignment, as shown in Figs. l and 3, it is also necessary to provide an adjustable conneetion between the movable switch blade 9 and the upper terminal member T in order to assure Ajood Contact therebetween. 'lo this end. l provide upper, inner side portions of the lloat' ie' elements ll and with ii wardly projeetii shoulders 23 and 2l which are n "med Adi spherie; l recesses and 2h eon Stitntinp; seatsi't'or split-wierd portions 2T and oi a'ljustablc cont cts if) and Ell. respecely. 4The recesses 5 and 2o together connate a snel-:et 'for the spherical portions 2T and which together 'form a l all element. The eontaets QS) and Sl are prn'vided with lat .snrtae and :lil whieh eooperate with the inno u @if ,te sides ot the trout .switeh member i'. ii'liusa lanhand-weitet eonneetion is torni-ed liet"\-e ni the movable switfh blade S) and the Yliront sn'itrh terminal i. permit ingr the angular adjustment ot the vfin-mer th respect lo the la 'er in the event ot disaliggninent t iet ebetween.

The contaets Q9 and ire prevented trom droppin;il trom the tloati ig; switch elements and l2, when the switch is disengaged Ar m the stationary Contact member 7, by mans ot a pair ot studs 'l-l and il() which are threaded in the spherical portions 2T and 2S ot the contacts 29 and 3l, respectively, and extended through openings 36 and 37 in the tloating switch elements ll and l2. rl"he studs 3l and 35 are held in the openings BG and 3i' b v means ot loelting; pins 3S and 3) which extend through the portions of the studs Si and 35, respectively, which project beyond the outer side ot the, floating' switch elements 1l and 12. The openings 3G and 3T are ax'ally elongated to permit the angular adjustment ot the studs 34- and 35 when the switch member ll is out of alignment with the eontart member 7 The. eontart 29 is provided with a pair ot flexible eoudnrtors V'll and wiiieh are seeured to the inner side if the lioatinej switch elemen"` ll :it lonQt-udinally spaced points. The roniaet 3l is similarly provided witl a pair ot llexible eonductors el?) and All. whieh are secured to thel inner side ot the opposite lioating switch elenient l2. 'lhese 'flexible connections in no way interferey with the angula adjustment ot the contacts Q9 and 531.

n. ,still 'inrther ra 'ure ot my invention is the provision ot simple and eiiieient means, whereby uniform Contact pressures may be maintained on the ball element 18 of the hinge Contact member G and on the front contact member 7. This desired result is accomplished by the provision ot a single tension holt 4-5 wh ieh is positionedL substantially midway between the ball element 18 ot the hinge terminal 6 and the Contact surfaces of the front switch terminal T. One end ot the bolt ln extends through the floating` switch element ll and is provided with a head 46, while the other end extends through the switch element l2 and is provided with an adjustable head ill. A spring' 4S is positioned between the adjustable head il? and the outer side of the switch element l2, so that a springtmsion contact n ay be obtained between the switch barde, All and the Contact members G and 7. It is noted that sueh tension-adjusting means employs a minimun'i number ot parts and. moreover, assures even springcontaet pressures at the switch terminals G and 7.

rl`he switch blade 1l may be locked in its closed position .shown in Fig. 3, by means of locking' meehanism 4t2) of known design. its illust 'ated particularly in Fig'. (i, the meehanism maj,v :omprisf a lonei,iulinallymovableI bolt 5l, an inner end 52 oit which lits under an inner shoulder 5&5 ot the upper irontswiteh terminal T when the switch 4 is closed. The bolt ."i'l is normally maintaiiied in the locked position by means of a spring The bolt 5l may be a tuated torwardly 'from under the shoulder 53 by means of a, pivoted member having; a shoulder 5G whieh eoaets with a shoulder 57 oli the locking' bolt 5l. This locking' mechanism is mounted on end portions 5S and olf' the floating switch elements ll and l2 just above the upper side ot the 'front switel 1v terminal T.

ilssuming;` that when the truck switch 3 is moved into the eomjnirtment l. the lower Contact member 6 is otl'set laterally with respect to the upper contact member T, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The switch #l may still be closed without the necessity for adjusting the position ot the oil switch 3 or 'for machining an)v of the parts. rThis desired result is due to the tant that the ball-and-socl\'et connection at the hinge terminal (f3 ot the switch l permits the angular adjustment o'lf' the switch memller 9 lo the rieht, as viewed in Fig. 3, while the adjustable mounting' o'l the, contacts 29 and 231 assures the proper engagement ot the upperl end ot the, switch member i) with the l'ront contaet member '.7. Should theJ hinge and Yliront eoiltaet members (3 and 'i be further disaligned. as shown in Fie'. 7, the. ball-and-soelet connections between the switch member f) and 'the contact members G and 'i' permits the further adjustment oit the switch member :fl into a position wherein good Contact conditions may be assured with the switch terminals 3 am e, It the contact pressures on the terminals (l and 7 are insut tcient, it is necessary only to turn the adjustable head 4:7 of the tension bolt l5.

lVhile l have shown only one form of embodiment of my invention, tor the purpose of describing' the same and illust 'ating' its principles of construction and operation, it is apparent that various changes and modilications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit ot my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon, as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the prior art.

I claim:

l. A switch comprising a pair of terminals, a movable contact member in engagement vwith said terminals, and means whereby a substantially uniform pressure may be exerted by said switch member on said pair oit' terminals, said means comprising a tension bolt positioned between said terminals.

A switch comprising a pair of spaced contact members, a switch member in engagement with said Contact members and eX- tending therebetween, and a single tension bolt so positioned as to assure equal contact pressures by said switch member on said terminals.

A switch comprising spaced contact members, a movable switch member in engagement with said contact members, spring means, and a bolt operatively associated with said spring means and said switch member for causing variations in the pressure ol said switch member on said spaced contact members, said bolt being positioned intermediate said contact members as to cause the pressures on said contact members to be substantially equal.

4;. A switch comprising a pair of' spaced contact members, a movable switch member, means allording said movable switch member a ball-and-socket mounting on one of said Contact members, Contact means carried by said movable switch member for co-operation with another contact member, and a tension device positioned substantially midway between said contact members for causing a predetermined contact force between said switch member and said contact members.

In a switch, the combination with a pair of contact members, of a movable switch member, means atllording ball-and-socket connections between at least one ot said contact members and said switch member, a tension device l'or assuring a substantially equal contact pressure on said spaced members, and a locking device lor said movable, switch member in operative relation to one of said contact members.

6. The combination with a switch member comprising a plurality of floating elements, off a contact member, and means providing a ball-and-socket connection between said contact .member and said switch member.

7. The combination with a terminal and a plurality of floating switch elements pivoted thereon, of a second terminal, and means whereby said floating elements may be electrically connected to said second terminal for different disaligned positions ot said floating switch elements.

8. The combination with a switch terminal, of a plurality of floating switch elements having a ball-and-socket connection therewith, a second terminal and adjustable contact means in engagement with said second terminal and said floating switch elements.

9. The combination with a switch terminal, of a plurality of floating switch elements having a ball-and-socket connection therewith, a second terminal, adjustable contact means in engagement with said second terminal and said floating switch elements, and a tension bolt positioned to cause sul stantially uniform contact pressures at said switch terminals.

10. The combination with a pair of switch terminals, a pair of floating switch elements, means for providing a ball-and-socket connection between at least one of said terminals and said floating switch elements, and a locking device for said switch elements.

ll. In a switch., the combination with a pair of spaced contact members, of a pair of' floating switch elenients, means affording said floating switch elements a ball-and-socket connection with one of said contact members, adjustable contact means carried by said fioating switch elements for co-operation with the other contact member, tension means for causing substantially equal contact pressures on said contact members, and locking means for said lloating switch elements in operative relation to one of said contact members.

l2. The combination with a pair of spaced contact members, of a pair of floating switch elements, means providing a ball-and-socket connection between one of said contact members, and said floating switch element, means for limiting the maximum separation ot said floating switch elements immediately adjacent to said last-mentioned contact memb `rs, and adjustable contact means for said floating switch elements permitting connection with the other of said contact members when said floating switch elements are out ot alignment.

13. A switch comprising a pair oil contact members, a pair of floating switch elements having a ball-and-socliet connection with one oit said contact members, and adjustable contacts carried by said floating switch elements in operative relation to the other of said contact members.

llVlLLlAM R. HU'ITINGER. 

